One of the most important and central concepts of Theodor Adorno's critical theory is that of negative dialectics, published in a book of the same name in 1966. The idea of negative dialectics challenges traditional notions of dialectical thinking and offers a unique perspective on the relationship between reason and the irrational.
Adorno claims that the traditional dialectics, originating from Friedrich Hegel, which seeks to synthesize opposing concepts into a new whole, ultimately fails to capture the full complexity of reality. Instead, he offers a "negative" dialectic that embraces contradiction and the inherent tension between opposing forces. According to Adorno, the negation of the negation is not enough; We must also recognize and embrace the unresolved contradictions that remain. That is, the goal of dialectics is not only to reach a synthesis of the whole but also to reach those contradictions that cannot be resolved.
Furthermore, Adorno claims that reason itself is a product of the social and historical context in which it is created. As such, logic cannot be separated from its cultural and political environment. This means that attempts to impose a "universal" reason that transcends historical and cultural boundaries are doomed to failure. Instead, Adorno suggests that we must confront the limitations of reason and embrace the irrational aspects of human experience. The dialectics of ideas and of history itself is never complete but moves through deficiencies, gaps, undecidabilities and questions that remain open.
Adorno's notion of negative dialectics offers a provocative and challenging perspective on the relationship between reason, contradiction and human experience. Although not without its critics, the book remains a significant contribution to critical theory and continues to influence scholars in a variety of disciplines.